Paul A. Schroeder, 40, of The Woodlands, surrendered without incident, said FBI Special Agent Shauna Dunlap. He is accused of unlawfully possessing and exhibiting a certificate of discharge from the military, “knowing the same to be forged, counterfeited, or falsely altered.” The misdemeanor charge is punishable by a maximum of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

In his job at PTSD Foundation of America, a local faith-based nonprofit, Schroeder mentored veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder and led group therapy sessions at churches, community colleges and the Star of Hope Mission. He also lectured at the Houston Police Academy as part of a post-traumatic stress awareness program for officers and cadets, and starred in an HPD training video.

Schroeder portrayed himself as a highly decorated Special Operations soldier who developed PTSD after serving multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Central and South America. But after being questioned by the Houston Chronicle earlier this year, he confessed to a reporter that he’d embellished his record. In reality, Schroeder served 10 years in the Army as a military policeman stationed in New York, Texas and Panama. The Army has no record of him ever deploying to war, serving in Special Operations, or receiving the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman’s Badge or other decorations he claimed.